The curriculum continues to be expanded at Onsted Community Schools in ways that Superintendent Mark Haag said he hopes will make the school a destination district.

The school board at its meeting Dec. 16 approved a number of goals related to the expansion of what it offers students, particularly at the high school level.

Haag spoke more on Dec. 19 about the goals surrounding “innovations in learning” instruction and curriculum, which the district called “creating a learning environment that fosters the academic growth of all learners while incorporating a model for global learning.”

One of the long-term possibilities is offering school all year long.

“We have been researching and entering into dialogue with parents about the possibility of year-round schooling,” Haag said. “We plan to share a potential model with parents on what that could look like.

“If there is not an interest from our parents and community, we won’t move forward,” Haag said. If the district does pursue an alternative year-round model, Haag said, “traditional will always remain a choice.”

In addition to adding honors science and algebra, the district has also started music courses that examine the history of music, jazz and the chamber ensemble and, coming up in the third trimester, a beginning guitar class.

Other courses being offered or lined up include those on critical thinking, problem solving and formal speaking.

When it comes to the changing course offerings, teacher Michelle McLemore said at the board meeting Dec. 16 the changes could be “intimidating but empowering.”

“It’s an extremely valuable thing that needs to happen regardless,” she said.

Haag said the district is looking into adding a biomedical course, and possibly having a grant written to move in that direction.

“We have a teacher willing to be trained this summer in that area,” Haag said.

The district’s goal in the next few weeks, the superintendent said, is to also kick off district social media sites.

“It is likely when we come back from break that we will have a a district Facebook page and Twitter set up,” Haag said.